Page 170 - Eschatology - Masters revised

If God intended for us to understand this passage to be talking about the Lake of Fire. He could have
used the words, “outside of the New Earth” to refer to the Lake of Fire. But He didn’t use those words.
And it would be quite unnatural, in this passage about the New Earth, to drag the previous reference to
the Lake of Fire from the previous chapter (Revelation 21:8) into this context. The description of the
Great White Throne Judgment which sentenced the unbelievers to the Lake of Fire ends before chapter
21 begins. Then, in Revelation 21:8, when God gives the list of choices for mankind and their
consequences, the last description to the Lake of Fire is given.

The remainder of chapter 21 and all of chapter 22 is about the New Heavens and the New Earth. The
word ”outside” in Revelation 22:15 immediately follows the words “may go through the gates into the
city” in verse 14. The natural and literal meaning should be understood to mean “outside the city (the
New Jerusalem)”. This means that believers, whose lives are characterized by sinful habits over which
they did not gain victory, will be living on the New Earth because of their faith in Jesus Christ for eternal
life, but they will be prohibited from entering the New Jerusalem, which is reserved for believers who
are overcomers (victorious). Perhaps the words “I will write on him the name of my God and the name
of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem” in Revelation 3:12 is a promise to the overcomer of access
into the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 3:12 (NIV84)12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again
will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new
Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

Summary of Important Spiritual Choices

The most important decision that each person needs to make is to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
The result of faith in Jesus Christ is, according to God’s promises, that those believers will go to heaven
when they die, return to earth with Jesus Christ for the Millennium, and finally live on the New Earth.
Eternal life is a gift which God, in His grace, gives to all who believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Secondly, it is very important that each believer makes a decision to faithfully and sacrificially serve
Jesus Christ during their earthly life. They will be evaluated by Jesus Christ as to whether or not they are
an overcomer, a person who is victorious and a faithful servant. These overcomers will receive the
eternal rewards Jesus has promised to them for all of eternity. And scripture mentions different kinds of
eternal rewards to be earned. Eternal rewards are awarded by Jesus Christ to those believers who
faithfully and sacrificially serve Him in victory during their life here on earth.

A New Heaven and a New Earth (Imagine what it will be like)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xclVg_Up-cU

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